Catering Assistant

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust; Whitehaven; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27-day holiday scheme

NHS Discounts

Salary Sacrifice schemes

Vivup counselling

Job summary

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Catering Assistant (Band 2) at West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven. You will join a team ensuring high-quality meals for patients, staff, and visitors, with a seven-day operation from 07:00 to 19:00.

Training is provided, including Food Safety Level 2 and allergen awareness. The role offers flexible opportunities, with potential progression into supervisory or specialist catering positions while supporting a positive workplace

Qualifications

• GCSE English language or equivalent.
• Food hygiene certificate.
• Previous catering or hospital food service experience preferred.
• Ability to work flexible shifts including weekends.

Responsibilities

• Assist in carrying out a range of catering duties to provide high quality service.
• Support meals for patients and staff across the hospital.
• Operate within set hours to cover 07:00–19:00 seven days a week.
• Complete training in Food Safety Level 2 and allergen awareness.

Skills

Good communication

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

Education

GCSE English or equivalent

Food hygiene certificate

Tools

Cash machine usage

Job description

Would you like to join a centre of excellence in rural and remote healthcare?

Main area WCH Catering Dept - 201302 Grade NHS AfC: Band 2 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Other

98.75 hours per week (to include some weekends) Job ref 262-A-26-8215250

Site West Cumberland Hospital Town Whitehaven Salary £25,272 Per Annum Pro Rata Salary period Yearly Closing 25/09/2026 23:59

Job overview

Catering Assistant - Band 2 - 98.75 hours available - West Cumberland Hospital

Our Catering Department plays a vital role in patient care and staff wellbeing.

The successful applicant will assist in carrying out a range of catering duties in an efficient and effective manner, ensuring all who use the service are provided with a high quality service.

We provide meals for our 260-bed hospital, fresh food for the staff and visitor restaurant, and serve at our Costa café outlet.

Main duties of the job

The catering department operates seven days a week between 07:00-19:00 so are able to offer flexible opportunities perfect for those looking to work around other commitments or gain experience in a supportive environment

Training provided to all new staff including Food Safety Level 2 and allergen training.

Career progression: Opportunities to grow into supervisory or specialist roles.

Working for our organisation

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of ‘safe, high quality care every time':

• Being a clinically led organisation
• Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
• A positive patient experience every time
• A great place to work
• Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

CERTIFICATE OF SPONSORSHIP

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment.Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit theUK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligiblevacancies.

Disclosure and Barring Service:

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £6.50 = £28.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £6.50 = £56.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

NHS Discounts*

Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*

Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

*Subject to eligibility

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date

Person specification

Qualifications

• GCSE English language or equivalent
• Food hygiene certificate

Knowledge and Experience

• Food preparation and catering practices
• Previous experience in a Catering role.
• Working in a hospital environment.
• Cash machine usage.
• Temperature record taking.

Skills

• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Able to work alone and in a team environment.
• Able to use initiative appropriately.
• Ability to follow health, safety and hygiene procedures.
• Awareness of appropriate image/appearance to suit service needs.

Personal Circumstances

• Ability to work shift patterns
• Ability to work effectively under direct supervision, or as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Reliable, adaptable and dependable
• Evidence of ability to communicate with key staff ie ward staff

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.